Oregon Hiking Scarf

This is my design for an Oregon Hiking Scarf (initially inspired by the Irish Hiking Scarf).

Yarn: About 400 yards of worsted weight yarn. I used 2 skeins of Plymouth Encore Worsted in a heathered pink color.

Gauge: About 5 stitches per inch.

Needles: US Size 8 needles, one cable needle or DPN for cables. Large crochet hook is useful for attaching tassels.

Key:
C4F: Place 2 st. on cable needle and hold in front of work. K2, then K2 st. off cable needle.
C4B: Place 2 st. on cable needle and hold in back of work. K2, then K2 st. off cable needle.

Cable Pattern:
Row 1 (RS): K4, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, K8, P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K4
Row 2 (WS): K2, P2, K2, P4, K2, P2, K2, P8, K2, P2, K2, P4, K2, P2, K2
Row 3 (RS): K4, P2, C4B, P2, K2, P2, C4B, C4F, P2, K2, P2, C4F, P2, K4
Row 4 (WS): Repeat Row 2

Knitting Instructions:
1. Cast on 40 stitches.
2. Beginning with RS row, knit Row 1 and Row 2 of Cable Pattern. Continue knitting Rows 1 and 2 until work measures 2 inches, ending with WS row.
3. Begin Cable Pattern, starting with Row 3. Continue knitting Rows 1 - 4 of Cable Pattern until scarf measures between 5 and 6 feet (depending on yarn supply; be sure to leave enough yarn for the tassels). End with WS row.
4. Finish scarf by knitting Rows 1 and 2 for 2 more inches, ending with WS row.
5. Cast off loosely.
6. Sew in ends and block.

Tassel Instructions:
There are a total of 8 tassels on this scarf, attached to the ends of the 4 ribs that border the cable patterns. Each tassel is composed of 10 strands of yarn.

Create 80 strands of yarn of the same length. Begin by wrapping yarn lengthwise around a DVD case or book at a very loose tension (avoid stretching the yarn). Cut through all strands of yarn in the loop, creating a handful of strands of yarn of the same length. Repeat this process until you have 80 individual strands of yarn.

To create one tassel, take 10 strands of yarn and fold them in half. Push the crochet hook through the end of the scarf at the desired location and pull the yarn loops halfway through the scarf. Remove the hook, pull the yarn tails through the loop, and tighten the tassel.

Repeat these steps until you have 4 tassels on each end of the scarf. Trim all tassels to the same length.

Grapevine Sock Pattern

Materials
1 skein each of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight in purple and gold colorways, or purple and green, both shown in the photos above. The fair isle vines stand out more if the two colors have a high contrast.

Two circular US 0 needles
Two circular US 1 needles

Picot Border
Using US 0 needles and purple yarn, cast on 72 stitches. Use slip knot for 1st stitch and backward loop method for other stitches. Adjust stitches so there are 36 stitches on each circular needle.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist the work, and knit 7 rows stockinette. On the next row, * P2tog, YO, repeat from * for the entire row. Knit 7 rows stockinette. You should still have 72 stitches, 36 on each needle.

Fold work along the P2tog, YO row with the right side of the fabric facing out. Create picot hem by knitting each stitch together with one stitch from the cast-on edge. Repeat for entire row until the entire cast-on edge is attached to live stitches and the hem is sealed.

Cuff
Using US 1 needles, begin chart A (horizontal vine), working a gold vine onto a purple background. Chart A repeats 4 times across each row. Be sure to knit the fair isle pattern LOOSELY - make sure the fabric will fit over your heel when you put the sock on!


When Chart A is complete, switch back to US 0 needles and knit 5 rows stockinette with purple yarn.

Ankle
Using US 1 needles, begin Chart B (vertical vine), working a purple vine onto a gold background. Chart B repeats 2 times across each row. Make sure that the tips of the leaves are pointing towards the cuff (knit chart from top to bottom). Again, be sure to knit the fair isle pattern LOOSELY so the sock will fit over your heel when you put the sock on!

Knit Chart B a total of 3 times.


Knit Chart C one time.


Using US 0 needles, knit 3 rows stockinette with gold yarn.

Heel
Divide for heel flap, 36 stitches on each needle.

Using US 0 needles, knit heel flap as follows:
- * Sl1, K1, repeat from * to last stitch, K1
- Sl1 first stitch, purl across entire row
Repeat the last two rows 16 times, ending with a WS row.

Turn heel:
- Sl1, K22, SSK, K1, turn
- Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn
- Sl1, K to 1 stitch before previous row turn, SSK, K1, turn
- Sl1, P to 1 stitch before previous row turn, P2tog, P1, turn
Repeat the last two rows until you reach the edge of the heel flap, ending with a RS row.

Pick up gusset stitches:
- Pick up and knit 16 stitches from side of heel flap.
- Resume knitting in the round and knit across the instep stitches.
- Pick up and knit 16 stitches from the other side of the heel flap. K to end of row.

Foot
Continue knitting in the round, decreasing every 2nd row as follows:
- Knit across instep stitches. On heel stitches, K1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
- Knit entire row
Repeat the last two rows until 60 st. remain. Adjust stitches so there are 30 stitches on each needle.

Continue in stockinette until you are 2 inches from tip of toe.

Toe
Decrease for toe as follows:
- K1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1 on both needles. This results in 4 fewer stitches than the previous row.
- Knit across entire row.
Repeat the last two rows until 24 st. remain, 12 on each needle.

Use Kitchener stitch to sew up the toe. Sew in ends. Wear in health and happiness or give as a gift to someone you love.